Seyffarth



R. SEYFFARTH 3,128,931 ROLLER SUPPORT AND GUIDE MECHANISM FOR STRIP ANDSHEET MATERIALS April 14, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 27, 1961Ham/2D SEYFFAETI/ INVENTOR.

p 4, 1964 R. SEYFFARTH 3,

ROLLER SUPPORT AND GUIDEMECHANISM FOR STRIP AND SHEET MATERIALS FiledApril 27, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 20/4/20 SEVFFAQW/ INVENTOR.

Aprl] 14, 1964 R4 SEYFFARTH 3,128,931

ROLLER SUPPORT AND GUIDE MECHANISM FOR STRIP AND SHEET MATERIALS FiledApril 27, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 v 4 f i A j 58 5 a 58a lQ/C'f/IEDSE/FF/Qfi/ INVENTOR.

April 14, 1964 R. SEYFFARTH 3,128,931

ROLLER SUPPORT AND GUIDE MECHANISM FOR STRIP AND SHEET MATERIALS 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 27, 1961 aamep 55/0742/7/ INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,128,931 ROLLER SUPPORT AND GUIDE MECHANISM FORSTRIP AND SHEET MATERIALS Richard Seyifarth, 77 Main St., Bedford Hills,N.Y. Filed Apr. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 105,929 8 Claims. (Cl. 226-199) Thisinvention relates to a support and guide mechanism for use inconjunction with stamping presses to support and guide strip and sheetmaterials fed to such stamping and punch presses.

In the conventional type of stamping press now in use, the upper portionof the press, in which the stamping dies are mounted, is tilted at anangle relative to the base, in order to facilitate manual handling ofthe pieces stamped in removing them from the dies.

In many stamping operations, the material used is usually a relativelythin strip material, which is fed from a stock reel, or other suitablesupport means to the die.

Due to the fact that the stock reel is usually mounted on asubstantially horizontal axis, in order to provide uniform feeding, andit is necessary to tilt the strip material to an angle conformingsubstantially to the angular position of the die in the press, thetransition from the substantially horizontal position of the reel to theangular position of the face of the dies has presented a number ofproblems.

The primary feature of applicants apparatus is that it is readilyadjustable for height, and angular setting, so that the strip, or sheetmaterial can be fed directly into the space between the punch and thedie, to facilitate high speed stamping on relatively short runs.

Another feature is that essentially the same support and guide mechanismcan be utilized with a wide range of widths and thicknesses of stripmaterial, and a wide range of angular positions of the die and pressbed.

Another feature is that essentially the same apparatus can be utilizedwith narrow or wide strip material, or for supporting and guidingrelatively wide rolled or flat sheet material, to be fed to a press orother suitable apparatus.

A major feature of the device is that the roller portion thereof can beutilized for straightening strip material preparatory to feeding it tothe die in a stamping press.

A primary feature of the invention is that it is readily adjustable forheight, lateral adjustment, and angular position in several planes, sothat it can be introduced between the reel or other feed mechanism andthe die, tilted in the press at the required angle to guide the sheet orstrip material between the die and the punch.

The accompanying drawings, illustrative of one embodiment of theinvention and several modifications thereof, together with thedescription of their construction and the method of adjustment, controland utilization thereof, will serve to clarify further objects andadvantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 represents a plan view of one embodiment of the roller supportand guide mechanism in the mounted position.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View of the roller support and guidemechanism, shown in FIGURE 1, mounted on a support base and column.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the roller end of the rollersupport mechanism shown in FIGURE 1, taken on the line 3-3, FIGURE 1,with the head supporting the rollers and the rollers shown moved throughan angle of 90 in dot-dash lines.

FIGURE 4 is a rear view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 2, with theroller support arm moved to an angular position relative to the column.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-section through the support column, shown in FIGURE2, and a plan view of the base supporting the column, taken on the line55, FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a full size longitudinal section through one of the rollersshown in FIGURE 1, the section being taken on the line 6-45, FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a schematic side elevational view of the rollers shown inFIGURE 1, rotated into an angular position to guide a strip material.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic front elevational view of the rollers shown inFIGURE 7, with a strip material fed and guided between the rollers, theview being taken on the line 8-8, FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a schematic side elevational view, similar to FIGURE 7, of aplurality of rollers, such as those shown in FIGURES 1 and 7, showing aplurality of pairs of rollers used to guide a single strip of material.

FIGURE 10 is a schematic side elevational view, similar to FIGURE 7,showing the rollers rotated into a horizontal position to straighten asection of the metal strip fed between the rollers.

FIGURE 11 is a schematic front elevational View, similar to FIGURE 8,showing two pair of rollers used as a melans for supporting and guidinga wide sheet of materia FIGURE 12 is a front elevational view of a stockfeed reel mounted on one of the rollers shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 13 is a partial side elevational view and partial section throughthe stock reel shown in FIGURE 12, the section being taken on the line13-43, FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a front elevational view of a modification of the rollersupport and guide mechanism, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, in which a secondsupport mechanism on which a stock reel is mounted, is included.

FIGURE 15 is a side elevational view of the modified roller support andguide mechanism, and the auxiliary support mechanism, shown in FIGURE14, the view being taken on the line 15-15, FIGURE 14.

It will be understood that the following description of the constructionand the method of operation of the roller support and guide mechanism isintended as explanatory of the invention and not restrictive thereof.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals designate the same partsthroughout the various views, except where otherwise indicated.

One embodiment of the construction, shown in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 3,comprises a roller support head 15, which is supported by a tubularcolumn 16, forming part of a base 17, which supports the head.

The head is supported by a tubular sleeve 18, which forms part of aswivel bracket 19, shown in FIGURE 1, the sleeve 18 being adjustablyattached to the column by a pair of socket head, or other type of setscrews 20, 20a, shown in FIGURE 2.

The tubular adjustment arm 21 of the head 15, is slidably and rotatablyfitted to a second tubular sleeve 22, which is integral with a swivelsupport bracket 23, which is supported by the swivel bracket 19,supporting the head, a tubular section 25, integral with the supportbracket being rotatably supported by a tubular collar 26, which isintegral with the sleeve 18, a pair of set screws 27 clamping the collar26 to the tubular swivel section 25 of the bracket.

A flanged holder 29 is attached to the tubular support arm 21, at theroller end of the support head '15, a triangular or other form of flange30, which is integral with the tubular section 31 of the holder, fixedlysupporting the mounting head 32, which supports the tubular rollers 33,34, in the manner shown in FIGURE 6.

A flange 35, integral with the head 32, the contour of which followssubstantially the contour of the flange 36, of the holder 29, isattached to the flange of the holder by a plurality of screws 36, suchas those shown in FIG- URE 2, or by other suitable attaching means.

As shown in FIGURE 6, each of the tubular rollers 33, 34 is supported bya long swivel screw 37, the cylindrical body section 38 of whichrotatably supports a pair of bronze composition, or other type oftubular bush ings 39, 39a, the outer diameter of each of which ispressed into a cylindrical counterbore at one end of the tubular roller.

The reduced diameter threaded end 40, of the swivel screw, is threadablyfitted to the internal threads in the head 32. The pilot section 38a, atthe threaded end of the cylindrical body section of the swivel screw 37,is fitted to a cylindrical counterbore 41 formed in the head, adjacentthe internally threaded portion thereof, to accurately align the rollersperpendicularly to the outer face of the head and maintain accuratelythe parallel relation between the rollers 33, 34, as shown in FIGURE 1.A substantially cylindrical head 42, integral with each of the swivelscrews, retains each roller in the relative position, shown in FIGURE 6,the spacing between the inner surface of the head 42 of the swivel screwand the outer surface of the mounting head 32 of the rollers 33, 34being somewhat greater than the length of the rollers, to enable therollers to rotate freely about the body 38 of the swivel screw 37.

The position of the rollers may be adjusted for height, longitudinalposition, and angular position in several planes, in a manner shown inFIGURES l, 2, 3 and 4 and hereinafter described.

The entire support head is both vertically and rotatably adjustablerelative to the tubular column 16, by which the support head issupported.

The tubular sleeve 18, which is fitted to the vertical column isvertically adjustable relative to the column 16, to any height relativeto the base 45 of the column, and to any angular position about thecolumn.

The sleeve 18, and consequently the support head 15 are held in theiradjusted position, relative to the column, by pressing the tips of theset screws 20, a, shown in FIGURE 2, against the column.

The support arm 21 of the head is angularly adjustable relative to theaxis of the column from the normal position, shown in FIGURE 1, to anangularly adjusted position, such as that shown in FIGURE 4, by rotatingthe tubular section 25, which supports the tubular arm 21 of the supporthead, within the tubular collar 26, which is integral with the swivelbracket 19, which is mounted on the tubular column 16. The collar isheld in the adjusted position such as that shown in FIGURE 4, bytightening a pair of clamp screws against the tubular section of theswivel bracket 19.

The adjustable arm, which supports the two rollers 33, 34 islongitudinally adjustable along the tubular sleeve 22, which is integralwith the support bracket 23.

The arm is also rotatably adjustable within the sleeve 22, in order tomove the rollers from one angular position, shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, toan adjusted angular position 33a, 34a, such as the position shown inFIG- URE 3, with the axes vertically aligned, as shown in dotdash lines,shown in FIGURE 3.

A pair of clamp screws is fitted to the sleeve 22, of the bracket in thesame manner as those shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3, in order to clamp thesleeve 22 to the adjusting arm 21.

The tubular column 16, which forms part of the base 17, is attached tothe relatively flat base plate 45, by a bracket 46. The support bracket46 includes a tubular section 47, to which the tubular column 16 isfitted, and a flat flange 48, which may be of substantially triangularform, as shown in FIGURE 5, the flange 48 being attached to the baseplate 45 by a plurality of screws 50, as shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURES 7 through 11 show various methods of supporting and locating therollers 33, 34, shown in FIG- URE 1, in order to perform a variety ofoperations in conjunction with various types of strip and sheetmaterials, the rollers 33, 34 and the head 32 supporting the rollersbeing rotated into various angular positions, shown in FIGURES 7 through11, in order to perform a variety of operations, using strip and sheetmaterial.

In the operation shown in FIGURE 7, the axes of the rollers 33, 34,shown in FIGURE 1, are moved into an angular position, shown in FIGURE7, by rotating the arm 15 supporting the head 32, which supports therollers, the arm being rotated within the tubular support sleeve in themanner shown in FIGURE 3.

In this position, the spacing between the outer circumferences of therollers 33, 34 is equal to, or slightly greater than the thickness ofthe metal strip 51, which is fed between them.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic front elevational view of the rollers 33, 34,shown in FIGURE 7, and the metal strip 51 fed between the rollers.

In this arrangement, the axes of the rollers 33, 34 and the metal stripmay be located in a horizontal position, as shown in FIGURE 8, or therollers may be tilted to an angular position in the manner shown inFIGURE 4, in order to feed the strip material at an angle correspondingto the angular position of the bed of the inclinable press, and the diesupported thereon, thus feeding the strip material along the properangular position to correspond with the position of the face of the die.

FIGURE 9 shows three sets of rollers 33, 34, 33a, 34a and 33b, 34blocated in alignment with one another, the axes of each pair of rollers33, 34 being tilted to an angular position, corresponding to the angularposition of the rollers shown in FIGURE 7.

In this construction, each pair of rollers 33, 34 is supported by aseparate roller support head 32 in substantially the same manner asthose shown in FIGURE 1.

In this arrangement, the strip material 51 is fed and guided between therollers in substantially the same manner as that shown in FIGURE 7,except that a longer section of the strip material is supported, asthere are three pairs of rollers 33, 34, simultaneously supporting thestrip.

The front elevational view of each pair of rollers 33, 34, shown inFIGURE 9, is substantially the same as that shown in FIGURE 8, the axesof the rollers and the face of the strip material located between thembeing substantially horizontal, as shown in FIGURE 8, or tilted to anangle corresponding to the angle of the bed of the press, and the diemounted thereon, in the manner shown in FIGURE 4, and hereinbeforedescribed.

FIGURE 11 shows two pair of rollers 33, 34 located in axial alignmentwith one another, the axes of the individual pairs of rollers beinglocated in an angular position relative to the sheet material insubstantially the same manner as those shown in FIGURE 7.

In this arrangement, the pairs of rollers 33, 34 and the individualheads 32 supporting each pair of rollers, are located a considerabledistance apart, in order to enable the rollers to support and guide arelatively wide metal sheet 53, or other material, in the manner shownin FIGURE 11.

The head supporting each pair of rollers, in the arrangement shown inFIGURE 11, would be supported by an individual column 16 in the mannershown in FIGURE 2, the columns being relatively movable in order toenable the spacing between the pairs of rollers 33, 34, 33a, 34a to beincreased or decreased to accommodate wider or narrower sheets ofmaterial.

FIGURE 10 shows the two rollers 33, 34 arranged in another position,with their axes located along a substantially horizontal line, similarto that shown in FIGURE 1.

In this arrangement, the rollers 33, 34 are utilized to straighten astrip 54 of material which is fed between them. The strip 54 of metal isfed under tension from .a position below the outer circumference of thefirst roller 33, through the gap between the rollers, thence along theouter circumference of the second roller, thus straightening the stripand eliminating any irregularities that may be formed on the surface ofthe strip.

The front elevation of the rollers, shown in FIG- URE 10, is alsosimilar to that shown in FIGURE 8, the axes of the two rollers beingeither substantially hori- Zontal, as shown in FIGURE 8, or tilted to anangle corresponding to the angle of the bed of the press and diesupported thereby, in order to have the strip, after straightening,follow the angular position of the surface of the die in substantiallythe same manner as that hereinbefore described.

FIGURES 12 and 13 show a single roller 33, such as that shown in FIGURE1, employed to rotatably support a reel 55, which is used to feed thestrip material 56, which is wound around the reel, to a die or othersuitable point, at which it is used for stamping or other suitablepurpose.

In order to provide an individual roller 33 in the head 32, shown inFIGURE 1, the second roller 34 is removed from the head, by removing theswivel screw 37 supporting the second roller.

The reel includes two substantially circular side walls 57, 57a, eachside wall being cut out to provide an outer rim 58, of circular contour,and a plurality of radially positioned arms 60, 60a, which are attachedto the central hub 61 and integral with the outer rim 58.

FIGURES 14 and show a modification of the roller support and guidemechanism, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, in which an auxiliary supportmechanism is mounted, a stock reel, similar to that shown in FIG- URES12 and 13 being incorporated therewith.

In this construction, the primary roller support and guide mechanism isessentially the same as that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, except that thetubular arm 21 of the support bracket is located at an angle to thehorizontal plane and the substantially vertical plane of the axis of thetubular column 16. The angle of the tubular arm 21 relative to thesubstantially horizontal plane, on which the flat base is mounted,corresponds to the angle formed by the face of a die, located in aninclined press, relative to the horizontal plane.

An auxiliary swivel bracket 63 is mounted on the tubular arm of thesupport bracket, the auxiliary swivel bracket including a tubular sleeve64, and a swivel section 65 incor orated therewith, the swivel sectionsupporting a tubular swivel arm 66, which supports the secondary swivelbracket 67, shown in FIGURE 14.

The secondary swivel bracket 67, which is similar in construction to theauxiliary swivel bracket, includes a tubular sleeve 68. The tubular arm69, on which the auxiliary support mechanism is mounted, is supported bythe bracket 67. Swivel section 70, similar to that of the swivel section65, is pivotally supported by the tubular swivel arm 66.

As shown in FIGURE 15, a reel support bracket is mounted at the outerend of the tubular swivel arm 69.

This bracket includes a tubular sleeve 71, which is attached to theouter end of the swivel arm 66. A swivel section 72 integral with thetubular sleeve 71, is fitted to the tubular arm 69, on which the head 73supporting the tubular roller 74, on which the stock reel is mounted, issupported.

A mounting head 73, similar to that shown in FIG- URE l, is mounted atone end of the tubular support arm, the mounting head 73 being supportedby a flanged holder 29, similar to that shown in FIGURE 1, a triangularflange 30, similar to that shown in FIGURE 1, which is integral with thetubular section of the holder, fixedly supporting the mounting head 73,which rotatably supports a single roller 74, in the same manner as thatshown in FIGURES 12 and 13.

A substantially triangular flange 75, which is integral with themounting head 73, is attached to the flange 30 6 of the tubular holderin substantially the same manner as that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

As shown in FIGURE 15, the single roller 74, which rotatably supportsthe stock reel 76, is substantially parallel to and located a distancefrom the pair of rollers 33, 34, mounted on the head 32 of the rollersupport bracket, shown in FIGURE 14, and substantially parallel to therollers 33, 34, to allow strip material 77 fed from the stock reel 76 tobe guided by the guide rollers 33, 34, and fed to the die mounted on thebed of an inclined press.

The stock reel 76, shown in FIGURES 14 and 15, which is similar to thatshown in FIGURES 12 and 13, includes a pair of substantially parallelside walls 79, 80, which are substantially parallel and spacedly locatedrelative to one another, the side walls being supported by and attachedto a central tubular hub 81, which is rotatably supported by the tubularroller 7 4, shown in FIGURE 15.

The tubular roller 74 supported by the auxiliary head 73, is rotatablysupported by a swivel screw 37, similar to that shown in FIGURE 6, thethreaded end of the swivel screw being thread-ably fitted to theauxiliary mounting head 73, which is shown in FIGURE 14.

In all other respects, the roller support and guide mechanism, shown inFIGURES 14 and 15, and the auxiliary stock reel roller supportmechanism, shown in FIGURES 14 and 15, are substantially the same asthat shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The method of supporting the rollers 33, 34, may be substantially asshown in FIGURE 6, or modifications thereof may be substituted torotatably support the tubular rollers 33, 34.

In place of the tubular bushings 39*, 3% shown in FIG URE 6, needlebearings may be substituted, in order to reduce the bearing friction toa minimum.

The method of supporting the tubular arm of the support head, and themethod of pivotally supporting the tubular arm in various planes, and toprovide longitudinal adjustment of the tubular arm, may be varieddepending upon the length of the tubular arm, the diameter thereof, andthe range of angular movement of the tubular arm and the rollers invarious planes, required in a particular operation.

The support base and the column supporting the support head 15 may beconstructed in the manner shown in FIGURES 2 and 5, or variousmodifications thereof may be introduced, depending upon the height ofthe columns required, and the spacing required, between the columns ofthe multiple roller installation, shown in FIGURES 9 and 11.

In these multiple roller installations, the individual pairs of rollersand the heads supporting them would each be supported by a separatetubular, or cylindrical column. These columns may be supported byindividual bases, such as that shown in FIGURE 5, or a single large flatplate may be substituted for the individual bases shown in FIGURE 5.Where a large base plate is used, an individual bracket, such as thatshown in FIGURES 2 and 5, would be utilized to support each of thecolumns 16, the flanges of the brackets being attached to the base platein the manner shown in FIGURES 2 and 5.

The brackets may be attached to the base plate in fixed positions,relative to one another or the spacing between the column brackets maybe adjustable, depending upon the requirements of a particularinstallation.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited to the specific details described above andshown in the drawings, and that various modifications are possible incarrying out the features of the invention and the operation, actuation,and the method of utilization thereof, without departing from the spiritand scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A roller support and guide mechanism for relatively thin sheetmaterials, comprising a plurality of pairs of substantially cylindricalrotatable rollers, the individual rollers of each pair of said rollersbeing substantially parallel to one another, one roller of each pairbeing coaxially aligned with corresponding rollers of the other pairs,means rotatably supporting each cylindrical roller of each pair,combination support and adjustment means supporting the roller supportmeans for each pair of rollers, a support column adjustably supportingthe combination support and adjustment means for each pair ofcylindrical rollers, the combination support and adjustment meansincluding a longitudinal support member providing longitudinal androtational angular adjustment of the roller support means, the rollersupport means including a support head adjustably supported by thelongitudinal support member, said combination support and adjustmentmeans providing longitudinal and multiple angular adjustment of eachpair of cylindrical rollers, relative to the support columns, each ofthe rotatable cylindrical rollers including a tubular roller, the meansrotatably supporting each of the tubular rollers being a substantiallycylindrical member removably supported by the support head, bearingmeans fitted to each of said tubular rollers adapted to rotatablysupport the tubular roller on the cylindrical member, and means forclamping the support head to the longitudinal support member in theadjusted position.

2. A combination feed and roller support and guide mechanism for flatmaterials, comprising a first pair of substantially cylindricalrotatable rollers, the rollers of said pair being substantially parallelto one another, and a second individual roller, located a distance fromand substantially parallel to the first pair of parallel cylindricalrollers, means rotatably supporting the first pair of rollers, a firstcombination support and adjustment means supporting the means supportingthe first pair of cylindrical rollers, the first combination support andadjustment means, including a first longitudinal support member,providing longitudinal and rotational angular adjustment of the rollersupport means, the first roller support means including a first supporthead rotatably supported by the first longitudinal support member, and asecond combination support and adjustment means supporting the meanssupporting the second individual roller, the second combination supportand adjustment means including a longitudinal support member, providinglongitudinal and rotational angular adjustment of the roller supportmeans, the second roller support means including a second support headrotatably supported by the second longitudinal support member, and meanssupported by the first combination support and adjustment means,adjustably angularly supporting the second combination support andadjustment means, a support column adjustably supporting the firstcombination support and adjustment means for the first pair of rollers,said first combination support and adjustment means providinglongitudinal and multiple angular adjustment of the first pair ofrollers, relative to the support column, the second support andadjustment means providing longitudinal and multiple angular adjustmentof the second individual roller relative to the first pair of rollers,each of the rotatable cylindrical rollers including a tubular roller,the means rotatably supporting each of the tubular rollers being asubstantially cylindrical member removably supported by the support headbearing means fitted to each of said tubular rollers adapted torotatably support the tubular roller on the cylindrical member, andmeans for clamping the support head to the longitudinal support memberin the adjusted position.

3. A roller support and guide mechanism for relatively thin stripmaterials, comprising a plurality of pairs of substantially cylindricalrotatable rollers, the individual rollers of each pair of saidcylindrical rollers being substantially parallel to one another, onecylindrical roller of each pair of rollers being substantially parallelto the corresponding cylindrical rollers of the other pairs of rollersand spacedly located relative to the corresponding cylindrical rollersof the other pairs of rollers, means rotatably supporting eachcylindrical roller of each pair of rollers, combination support andadjustment means supporting the roller support means for each pair ofcylindrical rollers, a plane through the axes of rotation of each pairof cylindrical rollers being angularly positioned relative to thesurface of a metal strip fed between the pairs of cylindrical rollers,the combination support and adjustment means including a longitudinalsupport member providing longitudinal and rotational angular adjustmentof the roller support means, the roller support means including asupport head supported by the longitudinal support member, each of therotatable cylindrical rollers including a tubular roller, the meansrotatably supporting each of the tubular rollers being a substantiallycylindrical member removably supported by the support head, bearingmeans fitted to each of said tubular rollers adapted to rotatablysupport the tubular roller on the cylindrical member, and means forclamping the support head to the longitudinal support member in theadjusted position.

4. A roller support and guide mechanism for fiat materials, comprising aplurality of substantially cylindrical rollers, said cylindrical rollersbeing substantially parallel to one another, means rotatably supportingthe cylindrical rollers, combination support and adjustment meanssupporting the roller support means, a support column adjustablysupporting the combination support and adjustment means for thecylindrical rollers, said combination support and adjustment meansproviding longitudinal and multiple angular adjustment of thecylindrical rollers, relative to the support column, the combinationsupport and adjustment means including a longitudinal support memberproviding longitudinal and rotational angular adjustment of the rollersupport means, in multiple planes, the roller support means including asupport head adjustably supported by the longitudinal support member,each of the rotatable cylindrical rollers including a tubular roller,the means rotatably supporting each of the tubular rollers being asubstantiallly cylindrical member removably supported by the supporthead, bearing means fitted to each of said tubular rollers adapted torotatably support the tubular roller on the cylindrical member, andmeans for clamping the support head to the longitudinal support memberin the adjusted position.

5. A roller support and guide mechanism for fiat materials, comprising afirst pair of substantially cylindrical rollers, the first pair ofcylindrical rollers being substantially parallel to one another, and asecond individual roller located a distance from and substantiallyparallel to the first pair of cylindrical rollers, means rotatablysupporting the first pair of cylindrical rollers, combination supportand adjustment means supporting the roller support means, a supportcolumn adjustably supporting the combination support and adjustmentmeans for the first pair of cylindrical rollers, said first combinationsupport and adjustment means providing longitudinal and multiple angularadjustment of the cylindrical rollers, relative to the support column,and a second combination support and adjustment means supporting thesecond individual roller, and means supported by the first combinationsupport and adjustment means, adjustably angularly supporting the secondcombination support and adjustment means, the combination support andadjustment means including a substantially tubular longitudinal supportarm, a first swivel bracket adjustably fitted to the support column, asecond swivel bracket slidably and angularly adjustably supporting thetubular support arm, means formed in said first swivel bracket rotatablysupporting the second swivel bracket, the rotatable support means of thefirst swivel bracket providing rotational angular adjustment of thelongitudinal support arm about an axis substantially perpendicular tothe axis of the support column, the roller support means including asupport head adjustably supported by the longitudinal support arm, meansfor clamping the first and second swivel brackets in their adjustedposition, and means for clamping the support head to the longitudinalsupport arm in the adjusted position, the means rotatably supportingeach of the tubular rollers being a substantially cylindrical memberthreadably fitted to the support head, and bearing means fitted to eachof said tubular rollers, adapted to rotatably support the tubular rollerfrom the cylindrical member, means for clamping the first and secondswivel brackets in their adjusted positions, and means for clamping thesupport head to the longitudinal support arm in the adjusted position.

6. A combination feed and roller support and guide mechanism for fiatmaterials, comprising a first pair of substantially cylindricalrotatable rollers, the rollers of said first pair being substantiallyparallel to one another, and a second individual roller, located adistance from and substantially parallel to the first pair of parallelcylindrical rollers, mzans rotatably supporting the first pair ofrollers, a first combination support and adjustment means supporting themeans supporting the first pair of cylindrical rollers, and a secondcombination support and adjustment means supporting the means supportingthe second individual roller, and means supported by the firstcombination support and adjustment means, adjustably angularlysupporting the second combination support and adjustment means, asupport column adjustably supporting the first combination support andadjustment means for the first pair of rollers, said first combinationsupport and adjustment means providing longitudinal and multiple angularadjustment of the first pair of cylindrical rollers, relative to thesupport column, the second support and adjustment means providinglongitudinal and multiple angular adjustment of the second individualroller relative to the first pair of rollers, the first combinationsupport and adjustment means including a first longitudinal supportmember providing longitudinal and rotational angular adjustment of thefirst roller support means, the first roller support means including afirst support head adjustably supported by the first longitudinalsupport member, each cylindrical roller of the first pair of cylindricalrollers including a tubular roller, the means rotatably supporting eachtubular roller of the first pair of cylindrical rollers being asubstantially cylindrical member, removably supported by the firstsupport head, the second combination support and adjustment meansincluding a second tubular support member providing longitudinal androtational angular adjustment of the second roller support means, thesecond roller support means including a second roller support head,adjustably supported by the second tubular support member, the secondindividual cylindrical roller including a tubular roller, the meansrotatably supporting the second individual tubular roller being asubstantially cylindrical member, removably supported by the secondsupport head, means for clamping the first support head to the firstlongitudinal support member in the adjusted position, and means forclamping the second support head to the second longitudinal supportmember in the adjusted position.

7. A combination feed and roller support guide mechanism for flatmaterials, comprising a first pair of substantially cylindricalrotatable rollers, the rollers of said pair being substantially parallelto one another, and a second individual roller, located a distance fromand substantially parallel to the first pair of parallel cylindricalrollers, means rotatably supporting the first pair of rollers, a firstcombination support and adjustment means supporting the first pair ofrollers, the first combination support and adjustment means including afirst longitudinal support member, providing longitudinal and rotationalangular adjustment of the roller support means, the first roller supportmeans including a first support head rotatably supported by the firstlongitudinal support members, and a second combination support andadjustment means supporting the means supporting the second individualroller, the second combination support and adjustment means including alongitudinal support memher, providing longitudinal and rotationalangular ad justment of the roller support means, the second rollersupport means including a second support head rotatably supported by thesecond longitudinal support member, and means supported by the firstcombination support and adjustment means, adjustably angularlysupporting the second combination support and adjustment means, asupport column adjustably supporting the first combination support andadjustment means of the first pair of rollers, said first combinationsupport and adjustment means providing longitudinal and multiple angularadjustment of the first pair or rollers, relative to the support column,the second support and adjustment means providing longitudinal andmultiple angular adjustment of the second individual roller relative tothe first pair of rollers, each of the rotatable cylindrical rollersincluding a tubular roller, the means rotatably supporting each of thetubular rollers being a substantially cylindrical member removablysupported by the support head, bearing means fitted to each of saidtubular rollers adapted to rotatably support the tubular roller on thecylindrical member, and means for clamping the support head of thelongitudinal support member in the adjusted position, the firstcombination support and adjustment means including a first substantiallytubular longitudinal support arm, a first swivel bracket adjustablyfitted to the support column, a second swivel bracket slidably andangularly adjustably supporting the first tubular support arm, meansformed in said first swivel bracket angularly adjustably supporting thesecond swivel bracket, the rotatable support means of the first swivelbracket providing rotational angular adjustment of the firstlongitudinal support arm about an axis substantially perpendicular tothe axis of the support column, the first roller support means includinga support head adjustably supported by the first longitudinal supportarm.

8. A combination feed and roller support and guide mechanism for flatmaterials, comprising a first pair of substantially cylindricalrotatable rollers, the rollers of said pair being substantially parallelto one another, and a second individual roller, located a distance fromand substantially parallel to the first pair of parallel cylindricalrollers, means rotatably supporting the first pair of rollers, a firstcombination support and adjustment means supporting the means supportingthe first pair of cylindrical rollers, the first combination support andadjustment means including a first longitudinal support member,providing longitudinal and rotational angular adjustment of the rollersupport means, the first roller support means including a first supporthead rotatau'bly supported by the first longitudinal support memher, anda second combination support and adjustment means supporting the meanssupporting the second individual roller, the second combination supportand adjustment means including a longitudinal support member, providinglongitudinal and rotational angular adjustment of the roller supportmeans, the second roller support means including a second support headrotatably supported by the second longitudinal support member and meanssupported by the first combination support and adjustment means for thefirst pair of rollers, said first combination support and adjustmentmeans providing longitudinal and multiple angular adjustment of thefirst pair of rollers, relative to the support column, the secondsupport and adjustment means providing longitudinal and multiple angularadjustment of the second indivdual roller relative to the first pair ofrollers, each of the rotatable cylindrical rollers including a tubularroller, the means rotatably supporting each of the tubular rollers beinga substantially cylindrical member removably supported by the supporthead, bearing means fitted to each of said tubular rollers adapted torotatably support the tubular roller on the cylindrical member, andmeans for clamping the support head to the longitudinal support memberin the adjusted position, the first com- 11 bination support andadjustment means including a first substantially tubular longitudinalsupport arm, a first swivel bracket adjustably fitted to the supportcolumn, a second swivel bracket slidably and rotationally adjustablysupporting the first tubular support arm, means formed in said firstswivel bracket rotationally adjustably supporting the second swivelbracket, the rotationally adjustable support means of the first swivelbracket providing rotational angular adjustment of the firstlongitudinal support arm about an axis substantially perpendicular tothe axis of the support column, the first roller support means includinga first support head adjustably supported by the first longitudinalsupport arm, the second combination support and adjustment meansincluding a second substantially tubular support arm, a third swivelbracket slidably and rotationally adjustably fitted to the firstlongitudinal support arm, a fourth swivel bracket slidably androtationally adjustably supporting the second tubular support arm, meansformed in said third swivel bracket angularly adjustably supporting thefourth swivel bracket, the second roller support means including asecond support head rotationally adjustably supported by the secondtubular support arm, means for clamping the first and second swivelbrackets in their adjusted positions, means for clamping the first andsecond swivel brackets in their adjusted positions, means for clampingthe third and fourth swivel brackets in their adjusted position, meansfor clamping the first support head to the first longitudinal supportarm in its adjusted position, and means for clamping the second supporthead to the second tubular support arm in its adjusted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,521,636 Long et a1 Jan. 6, 1925 2,433,921 Nelson Jan. 6, 19482,506,354 Green May 2, 1950 2,801,102 Walter et al. July 30, 19572,802,633 Moore Aug. 13, 1957 3,052,393 McKenzie Sept. 4, 1962 3,058,640Schuster Oct. 16, 1962

4. A ROLLER SUPPORT AND GUIDE MECHANISM FOR FLAT MATERIALS, COMPRISING APLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL ROLLERS, SAID CYLINDRICAL ROLLERSBEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO ONE ANOTHER, MEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTINGTHE CYLINDRICAL ROLLERS, COMBINATION SUPPORT AND ADJUSTMENT MEANSSUPPORTING THE ROLLER SUPPORT MEANS, A SUPPORT COLUMN ADJUSTABLYSUPPORTING THE COMBINATION SUPPORT AND ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR THECYLINDRICAL ROLLERS, SAID COMBINATION SUPPORT AND ADJUSTMENT MEANSPROVIDING LONGITUDINAL AND MULTIPLE ANGULAR ADJUSTMENT OF THECYLINDRICAL ROLLERS, RELATIVE TO THE SUPPORT COLUMN, THE COMBINATIONSUPPORT AND ADJUSTMENT MEANS INCLUDING A LONGITUDINAL SUPPORT MEMBERPROVIDING LONGITUDINAL AND ROTATIONAL ANGULAR ADJUSTMENT OF THE ROLLERSUPPORT MEANS, IN MULTIPLE PLANES, THE ROLLER SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING ASUPPORT HEAD ADJUSTABLY SUPPORTED BY THE LONGITUDINAL SUPPORT MEMBER,EACH OF THE ROTATABLE CYLINDRICAL ROLLERS INCLUDING A TUBULAR ROLLER,THE MEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTING EACH OF THE TUBULAR ROLLERS BEING ASUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL MEMBER REMOVABLY SUPPORTED BY THE SUPPORTHEAD, BEARING MEANS FITTED TO EACH OF SAID TUBULAR ROLLERS ADAPTED TOROTATABLY SUPPORT THE TUBULAR ROLLER ON THE CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, ANDMEANS FOR CLAMPING THE SUPPORT HEAD TO THE LONGITUDINAL SUPPORT MEMBERIN THE ADJUSTED POSITION.